Guide to Residence Visas in Oman | ExpatWoman.com
 

Guide to Residence Visas in Oman

Residence visas in Oman can be granted accordingly but rules change regularly. We have summarised as much as possible below...

Posted on

17 July 2013

Last updated on 11 December 2017
Guide to Residence Visas in Oman

Residence visas in Oman can be granted accordingly but rules change regularly. We have summarised as much as possible below and given you links to resources to help you.


Oman visa

Family Joining and Family Residence Visa

The Family Joining Visa is granted to the wife of the foreigner, who is resident in Oman, as well to his children who are below (21) years. It is also granted to the foreign wife of an Omani national at his request, and subject to a certificate from the concerned authority (Ministry of Interior) confirming the status of the marriage.

The Family Visa is granted by the concerned authority at its discretion, and at the request of a local sponsor and on his responsibility, to the relatives of the Omani national and the relatives of the foreigner who are not included in the categories eligible for Family Joining Visa. The Visa shall be as follows:

  • Valid for use: Within six months from the date of issuance.

  • Validity: Two years from the date of stamping the visa in the passport.

  • Fees: 20 Omani Riyals.

  • Fines for late renewal or non-registration of the residence permit is (50) fifty Omani Riyals per month.

Conditions:

  • The sponsor must be a local one with full legal capacity, and he is held responsible for the truth of the information stated in the application form.

  • For the employee’s children: Their age must not be above 21 calendar years. (Note: Their residence permit expires when they reach this age)

  • Brothers and sisters must not be above 18 years. A document confirming that they have no family provider outside Oman must be presented.

  • The family visa expires when the employee’s residence permit expires.

Required enclosures:

Submitting the electronic application form available through the website, to be endorsed and stamped by the sponsor, and to be typed in Arabic for Arab nationals and in English for Non-Arab nationals, enclosing the following documents:

  • Two photographs size (4X6) cm.

  • Copy of the foreigner’s passport, provided it is valid for a period not less than six months.

  • Copy of the passport of the foreign resident who wants his family to join him, and a copy of his residence card.

  • The standard undertaking form specified for the family joining visa applications. The undertaking form must endorsed by the sponsor and his foreign resident employee. Exemptions apply for those below (15) fifteen years.

  • A proof of the family relationship must be enclosed, unless the names and passport details indicate the relationship between the foreign resident and the person who will join him.

  • For the spouse, an original conformed copy of the marriage certificate must be enclosed. The document must be endorsed by her country’s embassy and the Omani Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

  • Copy of the specimen signature of the authorised signatories issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, as for the personal sponsorships, a copy of the personal identity card must be enclosed for signature verification.

  • In case the application is presented by someone other than the sponsor, the representative must be Omani and holding a written authorisation issued from the Directorate General of Passport & Residence as per the sponsor’s request.

  • A medical fitness certificate issued for citizens of some countries specified as follows by the Ministry of Health (India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Ethiopia); certificate must be endorsed by the Ministry of Health.

  • If the visa application is requested for the foreign wife of an Omani national, a certificate from the Ministry of Interior confirming the status of the marriage must be presented.


Student Visa

It is granted at the request of a local sponsor and on his responsibility to a foreigner who is coming to Oman as a student, provided that the sponsor has a licence from the concerned authorities to establish an educational or training institution, the visa shall be as follows:

  • Validity of the visa: Within six months from the date of issuance.

  • Duration of stay in Oman: Ranging from one to two years from the date of entry.

  • Validity for extension: For a similar period in case of study continuation, by proof of a letter from the educational institute.

  • Number of entries: Multiple entries.

  • Fees: 20 Omani Riyals.

Required attachments:

Submitting the electronic application form available through the website, to be endorsed and stamped by the sponsor, and to be typed in Arabic for Arab nationals and in English for Non-Arab nationals, enclosing the following documents:

  • Two photographs size (4X6) cm.

  • Copy of the foreigner’s passport, provided it is valid for a period not less than six months.

  • Copy of the specimen signature of the authorised signatories issued by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, for the private sector.

  • In case the application is presented by someone other than the sponsor, the representative must be Omani and holding a written authorisation issued from the Directorate General of Passport & Residence as per the sponsor’s request.

  • A medical fitness certificate issued for citizens of some countries specified as follows by the Ministry of Health (India, Pakistan, Philippines, Bangladesh, Indonesia, Sri Lanka, Egypt, Syria, Sudan, Ethiopia); certificate must be endorsed by the Ministry of Health.

  • Copy of the licence issued by the concerned authorities to the sponsor to bring students from abroad to study in Oman.

  • A covering letter from the sponsor explaining the type of the tuition and its duration.

For more information, you can check the Royal Oman Police website.


Renewal of Residency Visa

This service is available for the renewal of a residency visa already granted to an employee working in a public or a private sector, based on the Manpower form. The expiry date of the residency visa and the labour permit should be identical. Based on the sponsor request, an expatriate’s residency can be renewed for two years. 

Steps to follow to request the service

Process Steps:
1. Fill up the application form on here
2. Check the application and its enclosures.
3. Ensure passport validity.
4. Ensure residency validity and pay fines, if any.
5. Save your application number and the reference key
6. Print the application
7. Take the printed form enclosed with the required documents to the nearest ROP Visa office

What documents are needed to process
1. Renewal application form filled-in
2. Two passport photos
3. Copy of the Ministry of Manpower form for renewing a labourer’s residency.
4. Copy of the labour card of the father in case of renewing children’s or spouse’s residency visa.
5. Copy of the applicant's passport

Special conditions if any applicable
1. The sponsor or his authorised representative should submit the application.
2. The sponsor should submit the original copy of the authorisation in case the applicant is a company.

How the service is processed
The applicant will be asked to wait for 10 minutes in order to finalise the required procedures and hand over the passport.

How long will it take
The process will be finished the same day of submitting the application


Source: www.oman.om


*Last updated April 2017